Derek Carr finds himself under contract with the New Orleans Saints for the next two seasons, but discussions around his future are swirling, and a potential trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers could emerge as a realistic scenario.
Saints’ new head coach Kellen Moore has shown unwavering support for Carr, which is crucial given the hefty cap hits of $50 million and $60 million looming over the next two seasons. However, navigating such financial constraints may prompt the Saints to consider moving on from Carr sooner rather than later.
On the other side of this equation, the Steelers currently face a quarterback quandary. With both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields moving to new teams, the spotlight turns to Carr as a viable solution. It’s worth noting that the Steelers allowed Fields to depart after a mixed bag of performances, even though he delivered a commendable 10-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio in five starts. It seems the confidence in steering the team appears to lean more toward a seasoned veteran like Wilson, which might make Carr an enticing option for Pittsburgh.
As fans of the Steel City brace themselves for what the franchise may do next, head coach Mike Tomlin’s approach remains steadfast. If securing Aaron Rodgers isn’t in the cards, turning the team’s focus to Derek Carr could very well shape the immediate future of the franchise.
From the Saints’ perspective, the question becomes what the market for Carr looks like. Given the complexity of his contract, it’s likely that a trade would net them only a third or fourth-round pick at best. However, if the Saints can convince a team like Pittsburgh to take on Carr’s contract and throw in an additional fourth-round pick, it could signal the start of a significant rebuild for New Orleans.
The Saints have been grappling with salary cap challenges, often referred to as being in “cap hell.” General Manager Mickey Loomis will need to make bold decisions to escape this state of mediocrity, particularly in this offseason if he aims to reshape the roster.
While Carr has shown flashes of success when healthy during his stint in New Orleans, the reality is that the team’s ceiling with him at the helm, especially under a new head coach, may be capped. If the Saints choose to cut ties with Carr, they could pivot towards drafting a younger quarterback to lead their next chapter. Options like Justin Fields, Joe Milton, or even Jaxson Dart could provide that fresh energy and vision to propel the franchise forward. The decisions made in the near term could profoundly affect the trajectory of both Carr’s career and the Saints’ future.
